Tap jumping rope



Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES 3 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in jumping ropes, wherebywith the rope in use a sound will be produced which is timed with theoperation of the rope and which in efiect simulates the sound of tapdancing.

The primary object of the present invention is to materially enhance thepleasure and novelty in the use of the jumping rope through the mediumof the tap dancing effect which being more or less synchronous with theuse of the feet of the child in using the rope as to indicate, at leastin a general sense, that the child is tap dancing while jumping therope.

The invention primarily involves the intro duction between the handleand the rope proper of an element which moves with the rope and isrotative with respect to the handle. Within this element are mountedspring-like members which are raised against their inherent tension ateach relative rotation of the element and handle and released for sharpand direct contact with a part of the element, which may be in the formof a sounding board, to simulate the tap dancing effeet.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the rope andtheelement and handle connected to one end of the rope.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the element with the operatingshaft and rope handle in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing a slightlymodified arrangement.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 4, the handle andrope being omitted.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

With particular reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the rope proper isindicated at I, the handle at 2 and the intermediate sounding element at3. The sounding element is generally of spherical form made ofapproximately two similar semi-spherical sections 4 and 5 to beappropriately joined at their marginal edges by seaming 6. Soundamplifying diaphragms l and 8, preferably of wood though obviously ofany appropriate material, are arranged within the sounding element, themovement of each in the relatively outward direction being limited byears 9 instruck from the material of the element.

Secured at diametrically opposite points within the seaming 6 aremembers In and H of inherently spring material which are formed topresent a main length l2 exceeding the radius of the element 3 andinclining downwardly from their rigid connections in the seam 6 to arounded end l3 normally in contact with the diaphragms,

then extended from the rounded end toward and beyond the axis of theelement 3, as at I4, and terminally formed with a return bend l5 locatedbeyond the axis relative to the diaphragm with which they contact, withthe free terminals [6 of the return bends arranged immediately adjacentthe axis of'the element.

A'shaft H is secured in the handle 2 and extends through diametricallyopposed openings [8 in the element, being headed beyond the element atH) to maintain a position of the shaft for free rotative movementrelative to the element but held against separation from the element.The central portion 20 of the shaft is of triangular formation in crosssection and the transverse area of this part is such that in any oneposition of the shaft, one side of the triangular form underlies oneterminal Id of the spring member, the terminal l6 of the other springmember being also contacted by another side of the triangular form.

The rope lis passed through an opening. 2| in the member 3 and thesections 4 and 5 of such member 3 are formed with appropriate openings22 to facilitate sound escape. 1

In this form, as the ropeis used in jumping, the element 3 will becaused to turn relative to the shaft I1. At each rotation of the shaft,the spring members will be lifted away from their diaphragms, or liftedto permit the diaphragms to be moved away from their limiting ears 9,and as the relative rotation of the element 3 continues under the actionof the rope, the spring members are released and permitted under theirincreased tension to snap into contact with the sounding boards 1 and 8,imparting a sharp, clearly defined sound simulating the efiect ofcastanets or as if the feet of the user of the rope were tap soundingmember and of slightly less diameter than the main cylindrical wall.

The interior construction of this form is similar to that of the formfirst described including inherent spring members 32 terminally securedin the seam 33 uniting the sections 26 and 21 of the sounding memberwith such spring members having inclined lengths 34, diaphragm contactpoints 35, inwardly extending lengths 36 and terminal return bends 31,the ends 38 of which return bends are positioned adjacent the axial lineof the sounding element.

A shaft 39 is secured in the handle mounted in the sounding elementsimilar to the main form and having a triangular central portion 40which cooperates with the terminals 38 of the spring members in therelative movement of the sounding element and the handle. The flattenedends of the sounding element are formed with sound emitting elements 4|and in the sound producing contact of the spring members with thesounding boards or diaphragms, the latter are forced against thesounders 29 to increase the sound effect.

It is to be particularly noted that in both forms of the device thesound producing movement of the spring members is provided for only inrotation of the sounding element in one direction. In the operation ofthis element in the opposite direction, the triangular portion of theshaft does not lift and release the sounding members and hence in theuse of the rope in this direction no sound will result. Therefore, therotative relation between the sounding element and the shaft arearranged so that when the rope is in one position, that is the handlesof the rope disposed in the proper hands of the user, the tap producingsound will result, while if it is not desired to produce such sound, therope is merely reversed in the hands of the user and no sound will beproduced in the use of the rope.

It will of course be understood that the rope and handle may be ofconventional character; that the sounding element is preferably of thinmetal or other appropriate material; that the sounding boards are ofsuch material as to provide for the maximum sound efiect; and that thesounding members are of relatively thin inherently spring material.

What is claimed to be new is:

1. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, meansrotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producingsounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said meanscomprising a housing, a re-- silient striking member therein, cam meanson said handle for actuating said striking member, means defining aprojection within said housing, and a sounding board free intermediatesaid striking member and said projection defining means and adapted tobe sharply engaged by the former when the rope and handle are relativelymoved, whereby a castanet effect will be produced by the combinedengagement of said striking member and said board and said board andsaid projection defining means.

2. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, meansrotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producingsounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said meanscomprising a housing, resilient striking members therein, cam means onsaid handle for actuating said striking member, said cam means beingtriangular in cross-section, means defining projections within saidhousing, and sounding boards free intermediate respective strikingmembers and projection defining means and adapted respectively to besharply engaged by the former when the rope and handle are relativelymoved, whereby castanet effect will be produced by the combinedengagement of said striking member and said board and said board andsaid projection defining means.

3. In combination, a jumping rope, a handle for said rope, meansrotatably mounted on said handle and attached to said rope for producingsounds when said rope and handle are relatively moved, said meanscomprising a housing, a resilient striking member therein, cam means onsaid handle for actuating said striking member,

means defining a projection within said housing,

and a sounding board free intermediate said striking member and saidprojection defining means, the walls of said housing limiting thelateral movement thereof, said board adapted to be sharply engaged bythe former when the rope and handle are relatively moved, whereby acastanet effect will be produced by the combined engagement of saidstriking member and said board and said board and said projectiondefining means.

DANIEL C. DOZIER.

